NOTES AND QUERIES. 99 



which have been pubHshed by the Government, showing 

 the progress made in the preparation of working-plans up 

 to the 31st December 1908. Excluding the Madras and 

 Bombay Presidencies, the forest area is reported to have been 

 131,302,506 acres, or approximately 205,160 square miles, 

 classified as follows : — 



Acres 



Reserved . . . 40,146,430 



Leased . . . 336,598 



Protected . . . 5,164,208 



Unclassed . . 85,655,260 



Total 131,302,496 



Of this area, 20,369,009 acres (about 31,826 square miles), or 

 i^h per cent, of the whole, had been brought under control by 

 sanctioned working-plans. They deal with large areas in India ! 

 and the progress made in bringing their vast forests under 

 systematic management is highly creditable to the Forest 

 Department. 



Distillation of Wood. 



In the United States, during the year 1909, no less than 

 1,255,000 cords of wood, chiefly hardwood, were consumed in 

 the process of distillation. From hardwood the principal- 

 products were charcoal, alcohol, and acetate of lime ; while from 

 softwood the leading product was turpentine. The use of 

 saw-dust and other mill waste as the raw material was 

 substantially greater than in any previous year; and the 

 indications are said to be that, in future, the industry will 

 develop largely in the direction of thus utilising such hitherto 

 little used material. 



Our Government sanctioned the erection, last year, of a 

 factory for wood distillation in the Forest of Dean ; the most 

 important product will be acetate of lime, from which acetone, 

 one of the chief constituents of cordite, will subsequently be 

 produced. It is not at present proposed to manufacture acetone 

 in the forest, but the works are so designed that the process may 

 be carried out there hereafter, should this be desired. 



